It will be a family affair when the Manitoba flag is carried out at the 2015 Western Canada Games opening ceremonies, as twin sisters Josie and Kearley Abbott (Beach Volleyball, Winnipeg) have been named as Team Manitoba’s flag bearers to kick off the Games in Wood Buffalo, Alberta on August 7.

The sisters have been dominant in what has only been their first year as a team in a beach capacity, earning the title of 16U Provincial Champions, 16U Eastern Canadian Champions, as well as an impressive fifth-place finish in the Senior Open Provincials.

“Manitoba’s Beach Volleyball team has had some huge success in past Games, which really speaks to the program as a whole, and their dedication to building up their sport,” says Team Manitoba Chef de Mission Ted Bigelow. “They’ve been branching out, increasing their scope and intensity, and the results they’ve shown reflect that. Josie and Kearley are a perfect example of hard work paying dividends with performance, and we’re proud to have them represent Team Manitoba.”

“To prepare for the games we have been training with our coach and have competed in Senior Women's tournaments in Vancouver and at home. It is challenging playing against older more experienced players but we likely will be playing older teams in Wood Buffalo so it has been really good practice,” explained Kearley Abbott. “This is a new experience for us and it's one we are really looking forward to.”

On how they feel about playing together, “I'm super excited to represent Team Toba at the WCSG and being a flag bearer with my sister makes the whole experience even more special” exclaimed Josie Abbott.

The Abbott sisters are two of 300 athletes representing Team Manitoba at the Western Canada Summer Games which officially begin Friday, August 7 with the opening ceremonies, and run up until the closing ceremonies on Sunday, August 16th.

Team Manitoba will send a total of 394 athletes, coaches, managers, and support staff.

 

Eastman Region athletes
Caleb Friesen, Grunthal (athletics)
Nicola Odaisky, Beausejour (athletics)
Quenton Hurdal, Lorette (athletics)
Claudia Parrott, Beausejour (athletics)
Sophie MacDonald, Steinbach (cycling)
Tanner Onagi, Beausejour (judo)
Tristan Climaco, Lorette (soccer)
Mackenzie Hildebrand, Steinbach (volleyball)
Dryden Wall, Ste. Anne (volleyball)